Guide fixture for flush tanks



L- S. COFFELT GUIDE FIXTURE FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed NOV. 21, 1958 $.86o/(li' I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) GUIDE FIXTURE FOR FLUSH TANKS Lester Sherman Colfelt, 1814 Capital Ave., Sacramento, Calif.

Filed Nov. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 775,423

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-57) This invention relates to a guide fixture for flush tanks, and has as its primary object the provision of an improved guide fixture which may be readily attached to and detached from a flush valve of a flush tank, for the purpose of guiding the ball in proper relation.

An additional important object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is comprised of a pair of laterally opposed secured together spring clips which may be inserted into the valve body for the purpose of acting as a guide for the tank ball rod.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a spring clamp arrangement provided with an extending tongue which may be bent vertically either upwardly or downwardly to assure proper alignment of the guiding means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a guide which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to construct, manufacture and employ.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view, partially in elevation, of a flush valve incorporating the guide of the instant invention shown in association with the tank valve and guide rod therefore.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is generally indicated at an outlet fitting construction, of largely conventional design, which includes an upper flange 11, which is adapted to be seated against the bottom of the tank wall 12. The valve construction also includes a threaded outlet pipe portion 13, which extends through a conventional threaded aperture 14, and is secured in position by means of a clamping or locking nut 15, the usual inner and outer sealing gland 16 and 17 being provided.

Above the inner rim 11 the valve includes an outwardly bowed radial portion 20, which communicates with the usual lateral overflow passage 21, and an inverted frusto-conical valve seat 22. The valve seat 22 is adapted for the reception of a conventional tank ball 23, which includes a guide stem 24. The latter is se- Patented Oct. 18, 1960 cured to the top of the ball 23 by means of nuts 25 and 26 and sealing gaskets 27, and includes a threaded upper portion 28, to which is secured in any desired conventional manner a fixture 29 to which is attached a chain or pull rod 30.

The guide means of the instant invention is comprised of a pair of opposed transversely crossed leaf spring members 35 and 36, the member 36 being provided at its opposite ends with upturned spring fingers 37 which, when the device is pushed into the interior of the valve extension 13 engage against the sides thereof.

The member 35 includes one ipwardly extending arm 38, which terminates in a reverted spring end 39, which is adapted to seat in the overflow pipe 21. The other end of the member 35 includes an upwardly extending portion 40, and a laterally extending portion 41, the latter including a central aperture 42 through which the guide rod extends. At their juncture the members 35 and 36 are provided with aligned bores, 45, the bore in the member 35 being slotted as at 46 to allow for lateral extension thereof, when necessary.

By virtue of this arrangement the composite valve spring guide assembly may be readily inserted from the top of the valve prior to the fitting of the ball therein, and the transverse member 41 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly for the purpose of insuring adjustment of the guide rod 24.

The lower end of the rod 24 is provided with an oifset portion 50, for prevention of the withdrawal thereof completely from the spring assembly.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved valve guide assembly, which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may :be made in the embodiment herein before shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

The combination with the overflow passage of a flush tank valve fitting embodying a valve member operated by a lift rod, of a lift rod guide comprising upper and lower transversely crossed leaf spring members connected at their point of crossing, the ends of said lower transversely crossed leaf spring member extending upwardly in yieldable contact with the wall of said flush tank valve fitting, said leaf spring members having registering openings at their point of crossing for the reception of said lift rod of the valve, one end of the upper leaf spring member extending upwardly and laterally towards the center of said fitting in horizontal spaced relation above the intermediate portion thereof and having an opening aligning with the first mentioned openings through which said valve operating rod extends, the other end of said upper leaf spring member extending laterally into said overflow passage and terminating in a reverted spring end yieldably contacting with the wall of said overflow passage, removably securing said guide in said valve fitting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

